Wednesday, November 20, 2024
October 25, 2024 — Join us for a celebration of great California wine! LearnAboutWine crafts best of breed wine showcase events and this gathering displays the fantastic diversity and quality of place and producers large and small. Taste over 60 whites, bubbles, rosé wines along with a wide range of reds from massive to elegant. Explore Zinfandel legends and Albarino darlings, Syrah experts and Chardonnay masters, Pinot Noir icons and Cabernet Benchmarks. California is making the most exciting wine in the world! Meet the producers and come celebrate! Our partner location Republiqué is a top Los Angeles foodie haven and we will provide a silent auction that supports Children’s Hospital Los Angeles through our 501c3 partnership.
RÉPUBLIQUE
625 South LaBrea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Ticket options:
6:30 PM Early access with enhanced food – Oysters, Caviar, and tray pass prior to the start of the great tasting event.
7:00 PM Great Tasting Ticket includes an amazing assortment of foods and unlimited tasting
Or
Be one of 14 guests to enjoy the “VIP DINNER Package” which includes EARLY 6:30 ACCESS to the tasting and a seat at the 8pm dinner with Winemaker Matthias Pippig of Sanguis Vineyards and Owner, Richard Crowell of Red Car – $495 (all inclusive) (Valued over $600) and includes a limited VIP gift bag.
VIP DINNER TASTING MENU (A Sample Menu – Menu will change as the event approaches and seasonal changes occur – we can adapt to any and all dietary restrictions with advanced notice)
Actual tasting menu to be revealed approximately 7 days prior to the event.
BLUEFIN TUNA TOAST
Kaluga Caviar, Smoked Heirloom Tomato
CORN BEIGNETS
Jalapeño Aioli
EGGS ON TOAST
Soft-Scrambled Eggs, Santa Barbara Uni
(based on availability)
HIRAMASA CRUDO
Weiser Farms Melos, Cucumber, Thai Basil, Peach Nüõc Châm
MAINE LOBSTER
Pineapple Tomato, Thai Curry
DOVER SOLE
Cauliflower Mouseeline, Kaluga Caviar, Vine Juane
CORN AGNOLOTTI
Chanterelle Mushrooms, Australian Black Truffle
LIBERTY DUCK
Oven-Dried Peaches, Turnips, Blackberry Peppercorn Jus
STRAWBERRY TIRAMISU
Carmelized White Chocolate Sabayon
Confirmed Wineries and Winemakers include:
BARDEN — Winemaker Douglas Barden Margerum (Santa Rita Hills) – Santa Barbara Legend
CROIX ESTATE — Winemaker Kirk Venge (Sonoma Coast & Russian River) – Pinot Noir Specialists
DRY CREEK VINEYARD — Winemaker Tim Bell (Sonoma) – Benchmark Dry Creek Producer
MORAGA ESTATE — Winemaker Paul Warson (Bel Air) – Bordeaux style wines from Los Angeles
OJAI MOUNTAIN — Winemaker Erich Bradley (Ventura) – New Top Quality from Ojai
ONX Wines & Vineyards — Winemaker Drew Nenow (Paso Robles) – Paso Rhone Blend Specialists
OPOLO VINEYARDS — Winemaker Thomas T. Thomas (Paso Robles) – Paso Red Wine Specialists
RED CAR — Winemaker Tanner Scheer (Sonoma Coast) – Syrah, Chardonnay and Pinot Experts
ROBERT BIALE VINEYARDS — Winemaker Bob Biale (Napa Valley & Sonoma) – Zinfandel Specialist
ROBERT FOLEY VINEYARDS — Winemaker Robert Foley (Napa Valley) – Big Reds of Napa
SINGER BAKER LANE ESTATE — Winemaker Greg Adams (Sonoma Coast) – Viognier and Grenache boutique producer
S.R. TONELLA CELLAR — Winemaker Steve Tonella (Napa Valley) – Cabernet Star of Napa
THE SANGUIS COLLECTION — Winemaker Matthia Pippig (Santa Barbara) – Artisan blends exploring bubbles, Rhones, and Chardonnay.
THOMAS T THOMAS VINEYARDS — Winemaker Thomas T Thomas (Anderson Valley) – boutique Pinot and Chardonnay specialist
TURLEY WINE CELLARS — Winemaker Christina Turley (Amador County and Paso Robles) – Zinfandel specialist
TYLER WINERY — Winemaker Justin Willet (Santa Barbara) – Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Specialist
For more information about the event or to purchase tickets: CLICK HERE!
Or visit www.learnaboutwine.com or www.STARSofCalifornia.com
République
République, located in Miracle Mile, is owned by Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke. Centered in the heart of Los Angeles, the historic building in which it resides was originally erected in 1929 by Charlie Chaplin, and later transformed into the iconic La Brea Bakery and Campanile Restaurant. République builds on this storied past, offering a gastronomic environment imbued with history and grandeur. The space features a casual bakery, café, and bar in the front with a more formal dining area located in the rear, serving a French-inspired menu created daily by our chefs.
In 2023, Chef Margarita Manzke won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker for her work at République.
THE BUILDING at 624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The building that houses République is both timeless and unique. Built in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin and designed by architect Roy Seldon Price, it was initially conceived as a mixed-use space—with shops on the ground floor and office space above—surrounding an idyllic tiled courtyard. It first became a restaurant in 1989, when Chefs Mark Peel & Nancy Silverton updated the space to opened the seminal La Brea Bakery and, six months, later Campanile.
Campanile closed in 2012, and the building was updated yet again to make way for République. This time, the primary aim of the design was to strip the layers away—down to the original brick, tile and ironwork—and return the space to the airy, open feel of the original construction.
A Southern California native, Walter Manzke began his fine dining career in Los Angeles working alongside esteemed Chef Joachin Splichal of Patina. From there, he traveled around the world working with renowned chefs Ferran Adrià and Alain Ducasse. After a few years in the Bay area opening successful Relais & Chateaux properties, he returned to Los Angeles to make his mark on the city as Chef of Bastide, then moved on to take over the kitchen at Church & State. Chef Walter has several restaurants to his name. Domestically, he and his team have opened a string of critically -acclaimed Los Angeles concepts, including the ever-thriving République. Working alongside his wife and business partner Margarita Manzke, they have opened sixteen Wildflour Bakeries in the Philippines. Regarded as an “unassailable cornerstone of Los Angeles dining” by Los Angeles Times Restaurant Critic Bill Addison, Chef Walter’s restaurants have pushed him to the forefront of contemporary French cuisine, earning him recognition from the Michelin Guide, The James Beard Foundation, The Los Angeles Times, and journalists from across the globe. Born and raised in the Philippines, Margarita Manzke entered the Los Angeles scene working at some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, including Patina, Spago, and Mélisse. In the early 2000s, she and her husband Walter moved to Carmel, opening critically acclaimed dining concepts Bouchée, Cantinetta Luca and l’Auberge Carmel, which is where her signature French baguette was mastered. Manzke eventually returned to Los Angeles as Pastry Chef of Bastide Restaurant, and, in the years to come, opened several award-winning concepts in Los Angeles, including République. Manzke pushed the boundaries of her craft at République, introducing her own distinctive techniques and flavors into her creations.
As a result of her inspired work at République, Chef Margarita Manzke has been nominated for the James Beard Awards Outstanding Pastry Chef category for eight consecutive years running, with a win for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker in 2023. République has continued to make its mark on the culinary landscape of Los Angeles as a frequent entry on the Los Angeles Times “101 Best” List and one of Restaurant Critic Bill Addison’s most recommended LA restaurants to both friends and readers.
About Ian Blackburn
I discovered the wine industry while working with Chef’s Thomas Keller and Joachim Splichal in the top dining rooms of Los Angeles. My passion redirected my career from restaurants/hotels to vineyards and wine-education. Now with over 25-years of experience hosting events; leading trips around the wine world; I published a wine book; produced my own wine called Beekeeper Cellars and sat for the difficult Master of Wine Exam! Today, I am considered one of the region’s best wine educators and work for my 20,000 followers (follow me), visiting vineyards and wine regions and produce over 100 wine classes and events a year for my businesses and my team.
IAN BLACKBURN, CSW – Society of Wine Educators
Founder of Learn About Wine
Professional Sommelier – Click Here to See LinkedIn
2nd Year – Master of Wine Student (2014) | JWE – Junior Wine Executive
Timeline
1995 LearnAboutWine.com was created
2003-2005 TASTE on Two Rodeo – weekly tastings on Rodeo Drive
2005 LASupportsLA donated $250K to Hurricane Katrina Charities
2007 My wine class was featured on ABC’s The Bachelor
2010 Sold 5000 Groupons in one day to survive the great recession
2016 Appeared in the Movie “Sour Grapes” – Yes, Rudi was originally a student
2019 Surpassed 1 million dollars in Charity donations through our various events
2020 Pivoted to our own retail store called Merchantofwine.com & we still deliver!
2022 Appeared in the Movie “A Perfect Vintage”
Websites:
ZoomIntoWine.com – virtual tastings and education
MerchantofWine.com – procured wines and my wine of the month club
LearnAboutWine.com – wine education and events
Social Media (110,000 Followers):
Personal Instagram – @ianblackburnpresents
LearnAboutWine Instagram – @learnaboutwine
Facebook – @Learnaboutwine
Youtube – @LearnAboutWine
